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The justice committee, which has an SNP majority, will vote on the issue on Tuesday. Mr Macdonald has tabled a motion to annul the proposals.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame, who is the committee convener and has a casting vote, said the issue was not decided but should be based on evidence.

She said the committee had questioned Scotland's most senior judge Lord Gill, who said the moves were the way forward and would not affect access to justice.

Ms Grahame added: "We've got the debate, there's a lot still to be said. I hope that people base their decisions on the evidence in the round, that's all you can do when you're on a committee, that's what you ought to do."

A Scottish government spokeswoman said that while the Scottish Court Service (SCS) operated independently of the government, it was not immune from the same financial pressures.

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MSPs to vote on issue of Scottish court closures

She added: "We believe these changes are compatible with our wider justice reforms, and SCS estimate they can save £1m a year in running costs and £3m in maintenance costs, money which can be better spent on improving services and facilities at a smaller number of courts.

"Unfortunately, the fragmented and outdated court system we inherited - where many smaller courts are not fit for purpose and are under-used - is no longer sustainable."

'Local voices'

The Liberal Democrats have urged SNP committee members to rebel on the issue.

Party justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes said: "SNP members and the independent member of the justice committee need to listen to the voices in their local communities.

"They need to listen to voices of solicitors, victims, witnesses, jurors and police officers who know that Kenny MacAskill's proposals are nothing but bad news for local services and democracy."

If the motion against the proposals were successful the issue would move to the full Holyrood chamber.

Campaigners argue the plan would end 500 years of local justice and put a strain on support services and result in more people not turning up.

They also claim the remaining courts would struggle to cope with increased workloads.

The proposals have also been met with opposition from the Law Society, unions and some local MSPs.

BBC links

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